If you look at the raw box score for Yetur Gross-Matos, you might think he's just another rotational body on a defensive line. You’d be wrong. Stats in the NFL are often liars, or at the very least, they omit the grueling context of playing in the trenches.
He's big. 6-5, 265 pounds of Virginia-grown muscle. But his career hasn't been a straight line to the Pro Bowl. It’s been a series of flashes, frustrating injuries, and a recent change of scenery that’s starting to show what he’s actually capable of when the scheme fits.
The Carolina Years: A Foundation of "Almost"
Coming out of Penn State, the hype was real. You don't get picked 38th overall if you can't play. In Carolina, the Yetur Gross-Matos stats started off promising but hit the reality of a rebuilding franchise.
In 2020, his rookie year, he notched 2.5 sacks in 12 games. Not mind-blowing, but he was learning. By 2022, he played every single game—all 17 of them—and racked up 54 combined tackles. That’s a massive number for an edge player. It showed he wasn't just a pass-rush specialist; the dude could play the run. Honestly, he was a bit of a workhorse for a Panthers defense that was constantly on the field because the offense couldn't move the chains.
Then 2023 happened. He only played 12 games but managed a career-high 4.5 sacks. He was finally turning those "near misses" into actual production. But Carolina was a mess, and he hit free agency at exactly the right time.
Why the 49ers Paid for the Potential
When the San Francisco 49ers handed him a two-year, $18 million deal in March 2024, people scratched their heads. Why pay nearly $10 million a year for a guy with 13 career sacks?
The answer is in the "hidden" Yetur Gross-Matos stats. It’s the pressures. It’s the versatility. In the 2024 season with the Niners, he showed up. In just 11 games, he matched his sack production with 4.0. But look at December 8, 2024, against the Bears. He absolutely tore them apart.
- Tackles: 4
- Sacks: 3.0
- Impact: NFC Defensive Player of the Week
He was living in Caleb Williams' jersey that day. It was the game that validated everything the 49ers saw in him. He wasn't just a backup; he was a weapon that could slide inside or stay on the edge.
The 2025 Reality Check
The current 2025 season has been a bit of a grind. If you’re tracking the Yetur Gross-Matos stats right now, the numbers look lean. Through 8 games, he has 8 tackles and no sacks.
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Why? Injuries.
A knee injury in Week 4 against the Patriots required surgery. He missed huge chunks of the middle of the season. He finally got activated from IR just before the Colts game in late December. When you're a 265-pound defensive end, you need your legs. Coming back from knee surgery mid-season is a nightmare. He's been playing a rotational role—only about 15% of the defensive snaps—trying to get his game legs back under him.
Breaking Down the Career Totals
If we zoom out and look at the aggregate, here is what the resume actually looks like as of early 2026:
NFL Career Totals (2020–2025)
- Games Played: 74
- Total Tackles: 169
- Sacks: 17.0
- Forced Fumbles: 2
- Fumble Recoveries: 4
It’s a solid "B" career so far. But "B" players win championships in the NFL when they are part of a deep rotation. He’s essentially the 49ers' insurance policy for when the starters need a breather, or when they want to go with a heavy "NASCAR" package on third downs.
What the Advanced Metrics Say
Pro Football Focus (PFF) hasn't always been kind to Gross-Matos. His grades usually hover in the 50s and 60s. For context, an elite player is in the 80s or 90s.
But PFF doesn't always account for "contain." If Yetur is told to stay home and make sure the quarterback doesn't scramble, and he does that perfectly but doesn't get a sack, his grade might not reflect the win. He’s a discipline-first player. That’s why a guy like Kyle Shanahan wants him on the roster.
The Human Element Behind the Numbers
You can't talk about Yetur without talking about what he’s survived. This isn't just a "football story."
When he was two, his father, Michael, died saving him from drowning in a boating accident. Then, when Yetur was ten, his older brother was struck by lightning and killed while they were playing baseball.
Most people would fold.
Yetur used it as fuel. When you see him playing with a certain level of intensity or "quietness," that’s where it comes from. He’s been through more by age 10 than most of us will ever face. That mental toughness is a stat that doesn't show up on ESPN, but it’s why he keeps coming back from these knee injuries.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you are looking at Yetur Gross-Matos stats for fantasy football (IDP leagues) or betting, here is the move:
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- Watch the Snap Counts: He is currently a low-volume player. Until he crosses the 40% snap threshold in a game, don't expect the counting stats to pop.
- Matchup Dependency: He excels against "statue" quarterbacks. If the 49ers are playing a team with a weak offensive line and a QB who doesn't move well, Yetur is a great "over" bet for pressures.
- The 2026 Contract Year: He is entering the final year of his deal soon. Historically, players in contract years "find" an extra gear.
He's a high-floor, medium-ceiling player who is finally in a system that knows how to use his frame. He might never be a 15-sack guy, but he’s the type of player who makes everyone else on the line better by doing the dirty work.
Check the active roster status before game day. If he's healthy and the Niners are in a playoff push, expect him to be the one making the unselfish play that lets Nick Bosa get the glory. That's just how Yetur rolls.
To get a better handle on how he fits into the current defensive scheme, track the 49ers' "Defensive Line Rotation" reports. These weekly updates show exactly how many pass-rush snaps he's getting compared to run-stopping downs, which is the best predictor for his upcoming production.